Call the Midwife is known for its powerful storylines and tear-inducing endings, and as the BBC period drama gets into full-swing with season eight things are no different.
Tonight’s instalment shone the spotlight on the difficult subject of abortion in the 1960s, as it was illegal for women to have the procedure done at the time.
There were ways around it for some expectant mothers, but only if there was significant risk of danger or the woman to become insane as a result.
During tonight’s episode, a vibrant and beloved character called Jeanie was an integral member of the community, and became good friends with Trixie (played by Helen George) at her hoola hoop exercise class.
The pair continued to grow closer when Trixie became concerned Jeanie was pregnant, but the already mother-of-two was scared of the thought.
Later confiding in the midwife she knew she could be a good mother to two children, she was adamant a third would be one too many, and feared she would struggle to cope.
What followed was a tragic storyline that saw Jeanie beg Doctor Turner (Stephen McGann) to cut corners and refer her for an abortion, but he stood firm with the law.
The character then decided to visit an illegal clinic in secret and she conducted a serious infection and died, leaving her husband and two children behind.
Trixie was left particularly effected by the
